[bobthepanda]

there's a bunch of problems with the setup but a major one is that employer health plans are tax deductible. employees don't really get market choice, and employers really only care about reducing their own expense in regards to healthcare. ending this would be very expensive and disruptive for both employer and employee in the short term, and people have a strong preference for the devil they know vs. the devil they don't (either a public option or fully market-based healthcare)

it's worth noting that the healthcare system has a couple of antagonistic components and right now probably insurers are the only group actually fully happy with the situation. medical providers, pharmacists, and patients are all getting shafted.